U.S. patent number 7,082,957 [Application Number 10/688,360] was granted by the patent office on 2006-08-01 for temporary closure devices and tube couplings incorporating such devices.
This patent grant is currently assigned to John Guest International Limited. Invention is credited to John Derek Guest.
United States Patent |
7,082,957 |
Guest |
August 1, 2006 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Temporary closure devices and tube couplings incorporating such
devices
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a temporary closure device for a
throughway comprises a sleeve to fit in the throughway and a core
located in the sleeve. The core has an annular rupturable
connection locating the core in the sleeve to prevent flow of
fluids through the sleeve. The annular connection is rupturable by
displacing the core axially in the sleeve to allow fluid to flow
through the sleeve.
Inventors: |
Guest; John Derek (Maidenhead,
GB) |
Assignee: |
John Guest International
Limited (Middlesex, GB)
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Family
ID: |
9946525 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/688,360 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2003 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20040084107 A1 |
May 6, 2004 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 24, 2002 [GB] |
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0224785.6 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/68.19;
137/68.11; 251/149.1; 285/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
37/0985 (20130101); F16L 37/40 (20130101); Y10T
137/1632 (20150401); Y10T 137/1692 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16L
37/38 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;137/67,68.11,68.19
;222/541.1 ;251/149,149.1 ;285/3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 829 671 |
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Mar 1996 |
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EP |
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2 020 253 |
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Nov 1979 |
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GB |
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2 182 320 |
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May 1987 |
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GB |
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2 297 081 |
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Jul 1996 |
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GB |
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2 341 852 |
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Mar 2000 |
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GB |
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WO 98/28566 |
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Jul 1998 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Krishnamurthy; Ramesh
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Workman Nydegger
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A temporary closure device for a throughway comprising: an
elongate sleeve to fit in the throughway; and a core located in the
sleeve, the core having an annular rupturable connection locating
the core in the sleeve to prevent flow of fluids through the
sleeve, the annular connection being rupturable by displacing the
core axially in the sleeve to allow fluid to flow through the
sleeve, and the sleeve having a front portion in which the core is
located and a rear portion to which the core may be displaced to
allow flow of fluid through the sleeve, the rear portion of the
sleeve being formed with one or more axially extending slots in the
wall of the sleeve through which fluid may flow when the core is
located in the rear of the sleeve.
2. A closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular
rupturable connection is formed by an annular web extending between
the core and the sleeve.
3. A closure device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the web is
formed integrally with the core and has a rupturable connection
with the sleeve.
4. A closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular web
is formed integrally with both the core and the sleeve, the
connection between the web and the sleeve being rupturable to
permit the core to move axially in the sleeve to allow flow through
the sleeve.
5. A closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular web
is bonded to the sleeve and the bond being rupturable to permit the
core to move axially in the sleeve to allow flow through the
sleeve.
6. A closure device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the throughway
in the sleeve has annular abutment means with which the web engages
to locate the core in the sleeve and from which the web can be
disengaged by pressing the core into the throughway to allow flow
of fluid along the throughway.
7. A closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
slots are formed in the rear portion of the sleeve equispaced
around the sleeve.
8. A closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the core is
moulded in the front portion of the sleeve and has an end
projecting from the front end of the sleeve with which a tube or
other component can act to displace the core into the sleeve to
open the passage through the sleeve.
9. A closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the projecting
end of the core tapers from the integral annular web to the front
of the core.
10. A closure device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the front of
the core has an integral projecting cruciform shape to receive a
tube or other component to displace the core.
11. A closure device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve and
core are moulded plastics components.
12. A tube coupling comprising a coupling body having a throughway
open at one end to receive a tube, a locking device in the
throughway to engage and secure the tube in the throughway, a seal
in the throughway beyond the locking device to engage and seal with
the tube when the latter is fully inserted into the throughway and
is engaged by the locking device and a closure device located in
the throughway beyond the seal to be engaged by the tube as the
latter is inserted into the throughway, the closure device
incorporating a rupturable seal arranged to be ruptured by full
insertion of the tube or pin to permit flow in the throughway.
13. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 12, wherein the closure
device comprises a sleeve to be engaged in the throughway and a
core located in the sleeve with a rupturable seal extending between
the core and the sleeve, the core being engaged by a tube or a pin
inserted into the throughway to rupture the seal with the sleeve
and displace the core along the sleeve to allow flow through the
sleeve.
14. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 12, wherein the closure
device comprises a sleeve and a core located in the sleeve, the
sleeve having a front portion and a rear portion, the core being
located in and supported in the front portion of the sleeve by a
thin breakable annular web formed integrally between the core and
sleeve to prevent flow of fluids through the sleeve, the core being
displaceable into the rear portion of the sleeve and the rear
portion of the sleeve having a passage or passages therein to
permit flow of fluid past the core when located in the rear
portion.
15. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rear
portion of the sleeve is formed with one or more axially extending
slots in the wall of the sleeve through which fluid may flow when
the core is located in the rear of the sleeve.
16. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 15, wherein a plurality of
slots are formed in the rear portion of the sleeve equispaced
around the sleeve.
17. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 14, wherein the core is
moulded in the front portion of the sleeve and has an end
projecting from the front end of the sleeve on which a tube or
other component can act to displace the core into the sleeve to
open the passage through the sleeve.
18. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 17, wherein the projecting
end of the core tapers from the integral annular web to the front
of the core.
19. A tube coupling as claimed in claim 18, wherein the front of
the core has an integral projecting cruciform shape to receive a
tube or other component to displace the core.
Description
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to temporary closure devices suitable for
use in tube couplings and also to tube couplings incorporating
temporary closure devices.
2. Background Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,237 discloses a device for draining and
collecting sump oil from a motor vehicle having a drain plug which
is closed by a ball valve or rupturable membrane. Oil is drained
from the sump by inserting a drain spigot into the plug body to
open the valve or to rupture the membrane so that oil drains
through a hose connected to the spigot into a shallow vessel which
may be located beneath the vehicle.
British Patent Specification No. 2182320 discloses a keystone bung
and a cask connector for beverage casks. The bung has an outer
periphery constructed to seal with a given keystone and a through
bore closed by a sealing diaphragm. The through bore has an
internal screw thread to mate with an external thread on the cask
connector so that it can be screwed into the through bore and a
tapered inner end of the connector can rupture the diaphragm to
open the bung.
Summary of the Invention
This invention provides a temporary closure device for a throughway
comprising a sleeve to fit in the throughway and a core located in
the sleeve, the core having an encircling annular rupturable
connection locating the core in the sleeve to prevent flow of
fluids through the sleeve, the annular connection being rupturable
by displacing the core axially in the sleeve to allow fluid to flow
through the sleeve.
More specifically, the annular rupturable connection is formed by
an annular web extending between the core and the sleeve.
Thus, in one arrangement according to the invention the web may be
formed integrally with the core and has a rupturable connection
with the sleeve.
For example, the annular web may be formed integrally with both the
core and the sleeve, the connection between the web and the sleeve
being rupturable to permit the core to move axially in the sleeve
to allow flow through the sleeve.
In a further arrangement, the annular web may be bonded to the
sleeve, the bond being rupturable to permit the core to move
axially in the sleeve to allow flow through the sleeve.
In a still further arrangement, the throughway in the sleeve may
have annular abutment means with which the web engages to locate
the core in the sleeve and from which the web can be disengaged by
pressing the core into the throughway to allow flow of fluid along
the throughway.
In any of the above arrangement the sleeve may be an elongate
sleeve having a front portion in which the core is located and a
rear portion to which the core may be displaced to allow flow of
fluid through the sleeve.
In the latter arrangement the rear portion of the sleeve may be
formed with one or more axially extending slots in the wall of the
sleeve through which fluid may flow when the core is located in the
rear of the sleeve.
More specifically, a plurality of slots may be formed in the rear
portion of the sleeve equispaced around the sleeve.
In the case where an elongate sleeve is provided and the core is
moulded in the front portion of the sleeve, the core may have an
end projecting from the front end of the sleeve with which a tube
or other component can act to displace the core into the sleeve to
open the passage through the sleeve. The projecting end of the core
may taper from the integral annular web to the front of the core.
Also, the front of the core may have an integral projecting
cruciform shape to receive a tube or other component to displace
the core.
In any of the above arrangements the sleeve and core may be moulded
plastics components.
The invention also provides a tube coupling body having a
throughway open at one end to receive a tube, a locking device in
the throughway to engage and secure the tube in the throughway, a
seal in the throughway beyond the locking device to engage and seal
with the tube when the latter is fully inserted into the throughway
and is engaged by the locking device and a closure device located
in the throughway beyond the seal to be engaged by the tube as the
latter is inserted into the throughway, the closure device
incorporating a rupturable seal arranged to be ruptured by full
insertion of the tube or pin to permit flow in the throughway.
The closure device may comprise a sleeve to be engaged in the
throughway, a core located in the sleeve with a rupturable seal
extending between the plug and sleeve, the plug being engaged by a
tube or pin inserted into the throughway to rupture the seal with
the sleeve and displace the plug along the sleeve to allow flow
through the sleeve.
In the latter construction the closure device may comprise a sleeve
and a core located in the sleeve, the sleeve having a front portion
and a rear portion, the plug being located in and supported in the
front portion of the sleeve by a thin breakable annular web formed
integrally between the core and sleeve to prevent flow of fluids
through the sleeve, the core being possibly displaceable into the
rear portion of the sleeve and the rear portion of the sleeve
having a passage or passages therein to permit flow of fluid passed
the core when located in the rear portion.
More specifically, the rear portion of the sleeve may be formed
with one or more axially extending slots in the wall of the sleeve
through which fluid may flow when the core is located in the rear
of the sleeve.
In one example according to the invention, a plurality of slots may
be formed in the rear portion of the sleeve equispaced around the
sleeve for fluid flow when the core is displaced into the rear
portion of the sleeve.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention the core may
be moulded in the front portion of the sleeve and may have an end
projecting from the front end of the sleeve on which a tube or
other component can act to displace the core into the sleeve to
open the passage through the sleeve. Furthermore, the projecting
end of the core may taper from the integral annular web to the
front of the core and the front of the core may have an integral
projecting cruciform shape to receive a tube or other component to
displace the core.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the
invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectioned view of a tube coupling with
an end part of a tube inserted partway into the coupling and a
closure device located in the coupling in a closed condition;
FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 with the tube end fully inserted
into the coupling and the closure device in the open condition;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part of the coupling, part of the end
portion of the tube and the closure device shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the closure device out of the tube
coupling;
FIG. 5 is an perspective view of the closure device; and
FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view of the closing device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring firstly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a tube
coupling indicated generally at 10 and an end portion indicated at
11 of a tube which is inserted partway into the coupling. The tube
coupling is generally of the type described and illustrated in my
European Patent No. 829671 to which reference should be made for a
detailed description of the coupling.
The coupling comprises a coupling body indicated generally at 12
comprising a short spigot 13 having a central throughway 14 and
external annular ribbing 15 to engage and grip in a soft walled
tube (not shown). The spigot of the coupling body leads into an
enlarged diameter socket 16 having a bottom wall 17 with which the
spigot is integrally formed. The throughway 14 in the spigot opens
into an increased diameter bore 18 in the socket at an internal
annular step 19 at the bottom of the socket facing outwardly of the
socket. The socket has a further stepped increase in bore at 20
from which an enlarged diameter end portion extends to terminate in
an open end 22 to the coupling body.
A collet indicated generally at 23 for locking a tube in the
coupling body is mounted in the socket adjacent the open end
thereof. The collet comprises an annular skirt 24 having a stepped
outer surface formed with reduced diameter portion 25 at a step 26
which engages in the stepped bore 18 with the step 26 abutting the
step 20. The skirt 24 has a plurality of resilient arms 27
projecting towards the open end of the socket and is formed with
inturned abutment teeth 28 to engage with a tube inserted into the
coupling body.
A tube to engage in the coupling body is indicated at 29. The tube
has a reduced diameter end portion 30 which projects into the
socket of the coupling body through the open end 22, and has an
integral encircling annular bead 31 with which the teeth 28 on the
collet engage as the tube is inserted into the socket. As shown in
FIG. 1, the tube is partially inserted into the socket and the bead
31 is in engagement with the outer sides of teeth 28 of the
collet.
The bore 18 of the socket 16 contains, further along from the
collet 24, a first O-ring seal 32 to engage with the outer surface
of the tube inserted into the socket, a spacer 33 and further
O-ring seal 34 and finally a closure device indicated generally at
35.
The detailed construction of the closure device is shown in FIGS. 3
to 6 to which reference will now be made. The closure device
comprises a sleeve 37 having a stepped bore the sleeve having a
forward portion 38 in which the larger diameter bore is formed
containing a slightly small diameter portion bore and a rear
portion 39. The sleeve is located between the second O-ring seal 34
in the socket and shoulder 19 where the socket reduces in diameter
to the spigot 13. The front portion of sleeve 38 contains a core
comprising a central cylindrical portion 40 which is smaller in
diameter than the internal diameter of the sleeve 38 to leave a gap
41 between the core and forward portion of the sleeve. The core is
located in the sleeve by means of an annular web 43 of triangular
cross-section formed integrally with the core and tapering to a
apex formed integrally with the inner surface of the sleeve. The
connection between the apex of the web and the inner surface of the
sleeve is rupturable to release the core from the sleeve as will be
described later.
The core has a frusto-conical portion 42 extending from the web 43
outwardly of the sleeve and to terminate in a projecting cross or
cruciform abutment 44 at the forward end of the core. The opposite,
rearward end of the core is formed with a similar cruciform
projection 45. The core is a close fit in the rear near portion 39
of the sleeve which has a plurality of slots 46 extending into the
sleeve from the rearward end to allow flow of fluid around the
core.
As indicated earlier, the apex of the web 43 connecting the core 40
to the forward portion 43 of the sleeve is rupturable and the
cruciform abutment 44 at the front end of the core is designed to
be engaged by the leading end of tube portion 30 as the latter is
inserted into the connecting body and the raised bead 31 on the
tube comes into engagement with the teeth 28 of the collet. On
pressing the tube further into the socket of the coupling body, the
end of tube forces the core 35 rearwardly breaking the connection
of the core to the sleeve and driving the core into the rear part
of the sleeve where fluid flow around the core can take place via
the slots 46 in the sleeve. At the same time the raised bead 31
snaps past the tube 28 which then engage on the rearward side of
the bead to hold the tube in the socket shown in FIG. 2.
The sleeve and collet are conveniently moulded in one piece in
plastics material with the web formed integrally with the core and
also integrally with the sleeve as described earlier. A
modification of that arrangement, the core and sleeve may be
moulded as separately components with the web being formed
integrally with the core and the core can be secured and placed in
the front portion of the sleeve by adhering the apex of the web
with the sleeve which again provides as rupturable connection. In a
further modification, the web on the core projects into a annular
slot in the sleeve which holds the web and prevents flow past the
core. An excess force to the core will, however, force the core
along the sleeve thus disengaging the web from the slot.
In a further modification, the closure device may comprise the core
and the front portion of the sleeve, the rear portion being
omitted.
The tube coupling may be supplied with a "stuffer pin" formed
integrally with the core to position the core in the coupling. The
"stuffer pin" can be used to press the core through the sleeve to
open the coupling for flow. The stuffer pin is designed to snap off
the core in tension to allow it to be removed.
* * * * *